The US Open 2017 Preview, Tips & Betting Odds Guide

The second Major of 2017 takes place at Erin Hills this week with reigning champion Dustin Johnson the favourite to retain his crown at a new venue for the US Open tournament, writes Matt. There is a strong field, as you would expect, with a number of top names involved but several of those have been away from the course with little form to show in the lead up to this event.

We’re in decent form ourselves with a profitable each-way tip on 50/1 shot David Horsey in our last preview, who finished tied second at the Lyoness Open. So let us look to carry that over into a much more competitive field.

Dustin Johnson leads the field by some margin at an industry best of 8/1 in the US Open odds with William Hill and Ladbrokes. Prior to his unfortunate injury ahead of the Masters, the 32 year old had recorded an incredible three straight tour victories but has yet to claim a title since his return and that recent run includes a missed cut last time out.

Following on is Rory McIlroy at a top price of 14/1 with Bet365 and Paddy Power, along with Jason Day at a best of 14/1 with Paddy Power. Of those two, Rory is returning from a spell, having nursed a rib injury for several months. Australian Day is ahead of him in that respect and is just running into form again but none of the top three are really inspiring confidence.

The 2015 Champion Jordan Spieth is on the fringes of the favourites at a best of 16/1 in the US Open odds with William Hill and Betfred and is another man who started 2017 brightly before fading to an extent. The issue so far is that the majority of US Open Champions over the last ten years have shown some form heading into the event so we’ve yet really to tick that box.

Jon Rahm follows at a best of 22/1 with Betfred and Stan James before we find some real interest in Rickie Fowler at a top price of 25/1 with Bet365 and William Hill. Fowler leads the Power Rankings this week and, since Sergio Garcia’s win at Augusta, is now regarded as the best player yet to win a Major.

Garcia himself is also at 25/1 in the US Open betting with Bet365 and Ladbrokes while 2013 Champion Justin Rose, who took the Spaniard all the way to that play off at the Masters, can be picked up at best odds of 28/1 with William Hill.

There’s some talk around Kevin Chappell this week at an eye-catching 66/1 with Bet365 and SkyBet. The 30 year old has no great form in this event but a seventh at the Masters hints at a potentially strong showing while a fourth place at Memphis at the weekend indicates he is in good form coming into this event.

If you want to go really long, I’m surprised that William McGirt is way out at 250/1 with William Hill. Having led the Masters at one stage, McGirt has shown reasonable form since and I had expected him to be down at double figures in the outrights.

At a shorter price of 60/1 for the win, Kevin Kisner and Alex Noren can both be picked up with Bet365. Kisner has the game for this course while Noren arrives on the back of his BMW PGA win and shouldn’t be ruled out.

The Course

Erin Hills is a vast course at 7,700 yards and plays to all of its par 72. It will certainly favour the big hitters to an extent but like all US Open venues, it has narrow fairways and treacherous rough making driving accuracy essential.

It is a links course with wind expected to come into play and while the greens are larger than we might expect, the length of Erin Hills means we may see the sort of bump and run style shots more associated with St Andrews.

US Open Preview Betting Tips Conclusion

It all seems to be aligning for Fowler whose scrambling stats are high and he has decent form, despite a missed cut at the weekend. Fowler at 25/1 with Bet365 for the win is this preview’s tip in the outrights and there are a host of names in contention for the top ten.